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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ecotoxicity data for developing soil quality criteria
1National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, P.O. Box 314, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
|September 16, 2004
Summary
This study calculated soil quality criteria (SQC) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to protect ecosystems. A sum criterion of 25 mg/kg for eight common PAHs is proposed for Danish soils.
Area of Science:
- Environmental chemistry
- Ecotoxicology
- Soil science
Background:
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common soil contaminants.
- Assessing environmental risk requires reliable soil quality criteria (SQC).
- Existing ecotoxicity data for soil-dwelling species are crucial for deriving SQC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To calculate soil quality criteria (SQC) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
- To assess the environmental risk of PAH contamination in soil.
- To propose a protective concentration limit for PAHs in soil ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed existing ecotoxicity data for soil-dwelling species.
- Calculated SQC using assessment factors and species sensitivity distributions.
- Focused on lower molecular weight PAHs (log Kow < 5.5-6) and considered a sum criterion.
Main Results:
- Individual PAH SQC for 3-4 ring compounds ranged from 1.0 to 2.5 mg/kg.
- Predicted values from different methods were similar.
- A sum criterion of 25 mg/kg dry weight for eight specific PAHs is suggested based on Danish soil data.
Conclusions:
- SQC are valuable tools for environmental risk assessment of soil contamination.
- A sum criterion for a group of PAHs is more practical than individual criteria.
- The proposed 25 mg/kg criterion for eight PAHs provides guidance for protecting Danish soil ecosystems.